The Walk-On

by Richard Podkowski

In the twilight of his NFL career as a middle linebacker for the Chicago Storm, Mike “the Steelman” Stalowski masks his physical pain and mental anguish with alcohol and painkillers. The fan favorite has a rebel image and a notorious reputation, and he plays a violent gridiron game fueled by inner rage.

While estranged from his wife and living in the fishbowl environment of professional sports, he unexpectedly meets the fresh-out-of-college Kim Richardson. She sees through Mike’s star persona to who he really is—a kind guy from the Southeast Side of Chicago who has never forgotten his humble blue-collar roots. The lives of the star-crossed, seemingly mismatched couple collide during a whirlwind romance that culminates in a tragic series of events.

The Walk-On is a timeless tale of love and loss that explores the consequences of personal decisions and the rewards of faith, redemption, and hope.

Genres: Fiction

315 pages, Paperback

Published February 23, 2023

About the author

Richard Podkowski, a native of Chicago’s South Side, began writing fiction while studying criminal justice at Loyola University Chicago.
As a United States Secret Service special agent, Richard protected U.S. presidents and foreign dignitaries and investigated major domestic and international financial crimes. After retiring from the Secret Service in 2003 as a supervisory special agent, he became a management member of a Fortune 100 company's global security group. For the last several years, Richard has been a private sector strategic security consultant.
Inspired by professional athletes who lived in a fishbowl under constant media scrutiny and made life altering mistakes, Richard wrote The Walk-On. Other projects include a Christmas romantic comedy screenplay and a crime story. In his free time, Richard enjoys riding his road bike, working out, and making Christmas ornaments. He currently resides with his wife in Los Angeles.

Reviews

[pawsreadrepeat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Richard Podkowski and RABT Books Tours and PR. I'm excited to be a part of this tour.

In The Walk-On we meet middle linebacker for the Chicago Storm, Mike “the steelman” Stalowski as his glory days are coming to an end. Masking his physical pain and emotional anguish with alcohol and painkiller, he’s a fan favorite with a rebel image and a notorious reputation, he plays the game fueled by his inner rage.

Estranged from his wife and living in the fishbowl that is professional sports, he unexpectedly meets fresh-out-of-college Kim Richardson she sees through his ego and start persona to who he really is – a kind guy from the southside of Chicago who hasn’t forgotten where he came from.

This book weaves an intriguing tale of love and loss, the consequences of decisions we make, and rewards faith, hope, and redemption. This is my first book by this author and won’t be my last! I loved the writing style; it is easy to follow. The cast of characters are as complicated as they are eclectic. They also compliment one another nicely. I enjoyed the dynamic between Mike and Kim. They’re both likeable as they explore the emotional peaks and valley’s of a new relationship.

The plot is interesting, the backdrop of being a professional athlete gave depth to the story and gave the reader an insider’s perspective to what that life is like. The descriptions are well written, I felt myself completely immersed in this story from start to finish.

I look forward to reading more from this author and recommend this book to all sports fiction fans!

[Karen (kmo.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to @richard_podkowski @thebookgal @acornpublishing for the #gifted copy of the book.

I have grown up around football. My dad coached, my brother played, my husband played through college and my boys have played. It has always been my favorite sport to watch. I was immediately intrigued by the synopsis.

Mike "The Steelman" Stalowski seemingly has it all. He grew up on the blue collar side of Chicago, but he made it to the big league. The realism in the book is what kept me turning the pages. Mike's life is in utter turmoil. His marriage is in shambles and his football career has seen better days. Then he meets Kim. He falls hard for her, but in a blink tragedy strikes. Can Mike overcome it all?

This is a story of love, loss, resilience and faith. It is a story of finding yourself again when you feel like all is lost. I really enjoyed this fast paced book. It touched all my emotions. Pick it up. You won't be disappointed.

[Cody · Rating 5 out of 5]

the walk-on is so special because you’ve heard it before. not the novel’s words themselves, but you’ve been in a living room or around a dinner table listening to your family as they fondly recall special people and meaningful places from years back. you’ve watched them weave their upbringing into a tapestry. if you’re lucky, you’ve been able to fold that tapestry around yourself and take comfort and pride in the fact that you come from a complex network of love begotten from countless other complex networks of love. the walk-on is a story about how that network can save you from the darkest places.

yeah, you don’t have this chester janowik, this father mac, this mancuso’s pizzeria, but you’ve got your versions. when you’re reading the walk-on and soaking up the familiarity and warmth that podkowski carefully pours into each piece of the puzzle of mike’s life, you are bound to remember the places and people of your very own.

podkowski invites you to go back down the roads of your own life and remember those who brought you here. i got a special thrill at times because the author is my lovely father and certain locations are extra familiar to me, but i am very confident that everyone can find moments in the story that feel as though he managed to peek behind the curtain of their own life and immortalize it.

the tragedy carries through to satisfying catharsis, the characters are colorful, and i even learned a few football words!

[Krista Beyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recently I loaned “The Walk-On” to a friend and decided to finally write a review. First, the main character, Mike, was flawed and in a big way. I can’t say I necessarily liked him, yet at the conclusion of the book, I felt a slight “emptiness” after finishing. His character had a lasting impression on me, and this is what I thoroughly enjoyed about “The Walk-On.” For me, it’s also a sign of a good read (no pun intended-it was a great book really). Additionally, I enjoyed the author’s description of the sights and scenes of Chicago. It was an insider’s view, and also it piqued my interest of the the great city. Also, being Catholic (this does not define the book), I totally understood how important one’s religious upbringing can someday find its way back into someone’s life. Redemption…are we ever fully forgiven or can we even forgive ourselves? The book is wonderfully presented and was a page turner for me, and yet it also made me think a lot of where we are from, what choices we make, and who are friends are, etc. “The Walk-On” was truly a page turner, and from page to page you may have to decide what you think of the “Steelman.” Enjoy!

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book way more than I thought I was going to enjoy it! The book follows Mike “the Steelman” Stalowski as he navigates his way through his career and his personal life. He experiences love, loss, pain, suffering, as well as hope and redemption. As he is experiencing these things, the reader feels and experiences them as well. The author’s writing style is easy to follow and he developed characters that are easy to get attached to! While I attached to the love story a bit more, the author did a fantastic job of bringing the reader into the football game and behind the scenes. I’m not a football fan, but I enjoyed seeing what happens between the player and team and coaches off the field. The book provides the prospective of the athlete and how much pressure they put on themselves, and what they are willing to do to keep win and keep up appearances. I highly recommend this book to all sports fiction fans, and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

[Chester Jakala · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a 1st generation Polish-American and Chicago south side native- I immediately connected and was enthralled with the rich exposition of the characters and city locations in Rich Podkowski’s first novel. His writing style, pleasantly detailed, rich in color, style and tone, is something one would expect from a prolific author, not a first timer. A true talent he is.
The Mike Stalowski story resonated with me. This not so gentle giant football linebacker character a true psychological study. His thoughts, emotions, and in particular his curious somewhat clumsy love story reminded me a bit of Quasimodo and Jasmine in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”. As I slowly turned page after page, in order to inhale the rich word tapestry & story development, like peeling an onion, Richard artfully allowed me to enter into the world of #52 on team Chicago Storm. I felt #52’s thrill of victories and agony of defeat, and physical pain….on and off the field.
The “bad luck” fate and harrowing life-changing tragedy tugged at my heart- so well scripted. As the dedication page says-“this is dedicated to those of us who took a wrong turn on life’s highway”.
With Richard’s artful personality development, we see rays of hope and compassion extended to a wounded man by providential characters. Mike Stalowski #52 slowly picks himself up from losses and pain….and culminates in a unexpected miraculous transformation. To my pleasant surprise, our new author includes the use of a magical ring (as in Tolkien) – which manifests as symbol of a gentle giant's transformation - being the ultimate prize. That ring and that Harley riding into the sunset. A triumphant way to end a good read from a novel author. I want more, Richard.
I’d be “over the moon” if this novel would wind up on the big screen in theatres- Hollywood- are you listening?

[Charlotte Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose to read this book because it was set in Chicago, and I love to read book set in places that I am familiar with. While I am not a football fan, I know enough about the game to enjoy reading about it.

The Walk-On is not a book only about football. It is a book about the lengths a player will go to just to continue playing a game (any game) they love. The pain they will withstand, the treatments they will undergo, and the way the game will change their lives.

The Steelman, aka Mike, was living his dream but that dream came with so much more. I felt for all that Mike was dealing with. Nothing in his life came easy to him, he worked hard to get where he is now. The decisions he makes while living his dream have hard consequences and he has to figure out how to live with those consequences.

I really enjoy reading this book, this author is new to me but I will be looking for more from Richard Podkowski.

[karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Walk-On by Richard Podkowski engages readers from the first page to the very last. After NFL player Mike ‘the Steelman’ Stalowski suffers through a devastating car crash, the reader has the opportunity to join along on his journey to redemption. Each page is filled with love, suspense, drama and action. I did not want the story to end and can only hope for a sequel. The author gifts the reader with a front row seat into the protagonist’s soul. I felt every thought, emotion and conflict as I read The Walk-On. The story is told in such a way where just as I thought I was moving forward, I was thrown into reverse in order to get another glimpse into Mike’s sordid past. The sign of a good book is when the reader is left thinking about the story long after the last page was turned and I can say that is true for The Walk-On.
—Karen Soenen

[Shani · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic journey of a man who has it all, hits bottom, and rises back up again. Mike has a lot to handle. Facing the reality and consequences of his actions and/or life is hard. He’s been lucky to be awarded with second chances by those around him. His lifestyle has brought on the negative side of who he is. So not everyone sees the good in him. When he meets Kim, she’s a game changer for him. She’s interesting, and kind, and sees past the chaos that has become his life. She has a way of pushing past all of that and showing him a different side to life. I loved that she was just as complex and intriguing as Mike. Overall I felt like this was a good look into what life is like for those who live in the sports limelight. But also the ability to grasp second chances and not let go. It read well for me, was intriguing, and beautifully done.

[Keith Causey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is an extremely well written story of a star football player. The STEELMAN who is struggling both with NFL issues and real-life issues like injuries, addiction and the loss of loved ones. Every page is read so smoothly you feel as if you are the main character eating the food at a family restaurant on Chicago or making the big hits on the field. You will even feel your heart soar during the good times and feel the pain and struggle during the hard times. You really learn so much also about Chicago and the struggles and pressure that comes with being an NFL Player. Most importantly you walk away with the resounding lesson that no matter how hard life gets and mistakes you make. There is always a path for redemption and doing the right thing.

[Christine Corrigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard Podkowski’s debut novel The Walk-On—is a story of redemption seen through the lens of pro football: newfound, then lost love; addiction; the toll that getting hit in practice, weekly games, and life can take on one’s body and, more importantly, one’s soul. We see Michael Stalowski descend into the inferno, climb up through purgatory and, in time, to salvation, self-forgiveness, and new purpose all within the backdrop of the Windy City. Read it—we all need saving sometime.”
—Christine Anne Corrigan,
Book Lover and Book Group Facilitator

[Terry Chodosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rich Podkowski’s first novel is fast paced, realistic, with details on the once great city only a native Chicago resident can relay. His accurate depiction of police procedures and gritty details reflect the authors background in law enforcement. Coupled with the emotional aspect of the tragedy & redemption of the main character “ Steelman” makes this book a page turner that I frankly couldn’t put down.

[Samantha Turley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story kept you going the whole time. Loved the story, the people and most importantly, the sheer amount of lessons and themes the author managed to include.
The author grabs you from the first paragraph. Wonderful reading. Especially if you like books that make you really dive deep and think.
The characters and the setting are written exceptionally well. Great Read!

[R.K. Emery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Podkowski's writing style is smooth and easy to follow. I really enjoyed the storyline, it made for a well-rounded read.

The characters are well-developed and sympathetic. There is no cartoon black and white but realistic handling of events.

It's a journey and a well done one.

[Gina Stamper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard Podkowski’s writing is as refreshing as a wash of rain.

His plot moves with the swift elegance of an expertly-crafted page-turner.

Be prepared for deep emotions, and a high-energy read that really makes you think on another level. Reading this book is truly an experience.

[C. Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a totally fascinating and well-written story. Richard Podkowski has presented in this story many lessons. The thoughts it left me with were deeper than I was expecting.

Podkowski writes with passion, illuminating the characters and their experiences making this highly entertaining.

[Patrick Mulchrone · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true Chicago story. We all face adversity in life. Even pro athletes. It’s how we handle it.

[Monica Broussard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing was good. The character is a dark one who doesn't redeem himself, so it was a hard one for me. I never was able to connect with the character.

[Bill D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply put, this is a story of people taking care of each other. Not all the characters in the book realize that they still need others help or have it available to them but thats what the book is about.

Set against the backdrop of Chicago institutions as a South Sider I loved it Anyone that grew up in an urban setting would.